CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION AND CLOSURE PLUG THEREFOR
United States Patent 3698593
A removable closure plug seals closed an opening passing through a wall of a container construction, the removable closure plug having an annular groove therein snap-fittingly receiving the edge of the opening and engaging against the annular surface of the wall that is disposed intermediate the inner and outer surfaces of the wall whereby the closure plug seals closed such opening. The closure plug is so constructed and arranged that internal pressure in the container construction is adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely effecting the seal of the closure plug thereto. The closure plug is also so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to vent the internal pressure to the exterior of the container construction intermediate opposed ends of the closure plug when the internal pressure exceeds that certain value by toggling the closure plug intermediate the opposed ends thereof so that the opposed ends remain secured to the container construction whereby the closure plug tends to prevent the internal pressure from exceeding such certain value.
US Patent References:
Closure for cans, bottles, jars, &c.
Flanigan - November 1920 - 1360911
Stopper
Billing et al. - March 1946 - 2396035
Vacuum cleaner
Bradley - October 1957 - 2808957
Plastic pull tab to metal tear strip assembly
Henchert - September 1965 - 3204812
Molded bottle caps with integral pressure actuated sealing means
Esposito, Jr. - April 1966 - 3244308
Closure for cans, bottles, jars, &c.
Flanigan - November 1920 - 1360911
Stopper
Billing et al. - March 1946 - 2396035
Vacuum cleaner
Bradley - October 1957 - 2808957
Plastic pull tab to metal tear strip assembly
Henchert - September 1965 - 3204812
Molded bottle caps with integral pressure actuated sealing means
Esposito, Jr. - April 1966 - 3244308
Inventors:
Cvacho, Daniel S. (Richmond, VA)
Fastabend, Patrick A. (Richmond, VA)
Garriques, Alfred L. (Richmond, VA)
Jensen, Eric L. (Richmond, VA)
Fastabend, Patrick A. (Richmond, VA)
Garriques, Alfred L. (Richmond, VA)
Jensen, Eric L. (Richmond, VA)
Application Number:
05/166946
Publication Date:
10/17/1972
Filing Date:
07/28/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Reynolds Metals Company (Richmond, VA)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
220/791, 220/200
International Classes:
B65D43/10; B65D43/10
Field of Search:
220/6A,6R,67,24
Primary Examiner:
King, Lloyd L.
Assistant Examiner:
Mar, Michael Y.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. In combination, a container construction having a wall provided with an opening passing therethrough, said wall having an edge defining said opening, and a removable closure plug disposed in said opening and having an annular side engaging said edge whereby said closure plug seals closed said opening, said closure plug having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends respectively at the ends of said axis, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged in said opening that internal pressure in said container construction is adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely effecting said seal of said closure plug thereto, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged in said opening that said closure plug is adapted to disengage said annular side thereof from said edge to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction only intermediate said opposed ends thereof when said internal pressure exceeds said certain value without becoming detached from said container construction at said opposed ends thereof whereby said closure plug is adapted to tend to prevent said internal pressure from exceeding said certain value.
2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure plug is formed from resilient material and is a one-piece structure.
3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure plug has a projection to be manually grasped to pull said closure plug from said opening.
4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said projection can act as a lever to fulcrum part of said closure plug on said wall and force part of said closure plug out of said opening.
5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure plug is adapted to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction by having said internal pressure toggle said closure plug transverse to said opposed ends thereof to release said closure plug from said edge at opposed sides of said closure plug to provide vent openings at said edge.
6. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure plug is substantially triangular in configuration with the apex and base thereof defining said opposed ends thereof that remain secured to said edge of said wall while part of said sides thereof release from said edge to provide for said vent opening.
7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said closure plug has a reinforcing rib extending substantially longitudinally thereof between said apex and said base.
8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure plug has at least one reinforcing rib transverse to the first mentioned rib.
9. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure plug has a pair of spaced and substantially parallel reinforcing ribs transverse to the first mentioned rib.
10. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wall has opposed surfaces with said opening passing therethrough whereby said opening defines an annular surface of said wall between said opposed surfaces thereof, said closure plug having said annular side normally in engagement with said annular surface of said wall completely around the periphery of said opening to seal closed said opening.
11. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said annular side of said closure plug has an annular groove therein snap-fittingly receiving said edge of said wall to secure said closure plug to said wall.
12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said closure plug is adapted to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction by having said annular groove of said closure plug being relatively deep at said opposed ends of said closure plug and relatively shallow at a portion of said closure plug intermediate said opposed ends that will release from said edge to provide a vent opening between said edge and said portion when said internal pressure exceeds said certain valve.
13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said portion extends across said closure plug so that said portion releases from said edge at both sides thereof intermediate said opposed ends to provide two vent openings.
14. In combination, a container construction having a wall provided with opposed surfaces having an opening passing therethrough that defines an annular surface of said wall between said opposed surfaces thereof, and a removable closure plug disposed in said opening and having an annular side engaging said annular surface completely around the periphery of said opening whereby said closure plug seals closed said opening, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged in said opening that internal pressure in said container construction is adapted to increase to a certain valve without adversely effecting said seal of said closure plug thereto, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged in said opening that said closure plug is adapted to have a portion of said annular side disengage from said annular surface of said wall to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction when said internal pressure exceeds said certain value without becoming detached from said container construction whereby said closure plug is adapted to tend to prevent said internal pressure from exceeding said certain value.
15. A combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said closure plug is so constructed and arranged that the internal pressure of said container construction toggles said closure plug adjacent said portion thereof to release said portion from said annular surface of said wall.
16. A removable closure plug for a container construction having a wall provided with an opening passing therethrough and being defined by an edge of said wall, said removable closure plug being adapted to be disposed in said opening and having an annular side thereof adapted for engaging said edge whereby said closure plug is adapted to seal closed said opening, said closure plug having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends respectively at the ends of said axis, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged that internal pressure in said container construction would be adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely effecting said seal of said closure plug thereto, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged that said closure plug is adapted to disengage said annular side thereof from said edge to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction only intermediate said opposed ends thereof when said internal pressure exceeds said certain value without becoming detached from said container construction at said opposed ends thereof whereby said closure plug is adapted to tend to prevent said internal pressure from exceeding said certain value.
17. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure plug is formed from resilient material and is a one-piece structure.
18. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure plug has a projection to be manually grasped so that said closure plug is adapted to be pulled from said opening of said container construction.
19. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 18 wherein said projection is adapted to act as a lever to fulcrum part of said closure plug on said wall and force part of said closure plug out of said opening of said container construction.
20. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure plug is adapted to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction by having said internal pressure toggle said closure plug transverse to said opposed ends thereof to release said closure plug from said edge of said opening of said container construction at opposed sides of said closure plug to provide vent openings at said edge.
21. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure plug is substantially triangular in configuration with the apex and base thereof defining said opposed ends thereof that are adapted to remain secured to said edge of said wall while part of said sides thereof are adapted to release from said edge to provide for said vent opening.
22. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 21 wherein said closure plug has a reinforcing rib extending substantially longitudinally thereof between said apex and said base.
23. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 22 wherein said closure plug has at least one reinforcing rib transverse to the first mentioned rib.
24. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 22 wherein said closure plug has a pair of spaced and substantially parallel reinforcing ribs transverse to the first mentioned rib.
25. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said wall has opposed surfaces with said opening passing therethrough whereby said opening defines an annular surface of said wall between said opposed surfaces thereof, said closure plug having said annular side adapted to be normally in engagement with said annular surface of said wall completely around the periphery of said opening to seal closed said opening.
26. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said annular side of said closure plug has an annular groove therein adapted to snap-fittingly receive said edge of said wall to secure said closure plug to said wall.
27. A removable closure member as set forth in claim 26 wherein said closure plug is adapted to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction by having said annular groove of said closure plug being relatively deep at said opposed ends of said closure plug and relatively shallow at a portion of said closure plug intermediate said opposed ends so that the same is adapted to release from said edge of said opening of said container construction to provide a vent opening between said edge and said portion when said internal pressure exceeds said certain valve.
28. A removable closure member as set forth in claim 27 wherein said portion extends across said closure plug so that said portion is adapted to release from said edge at both sides thereof intermediate said opposed ends to provide two vent openings.
29. A removable closure plug for a container construction having a wall provided with opposed surfaces having an opening passing therethrough that defines an annular surface of said wall between said opposed surfaces thereof, said removable closure plug being adapted to be disposed in said opening and having an annular side thereof adapted for engaging said annular surface completely around the periphery of said opening whereby said closure plug is adapted to seal closed said opening, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged that internal pressure in said container construction would be adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely effecting said seal of said closure plug thereto, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged that said closure plug is adapted to have a portion of said annular side disengage from said annular surface of said wall to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction when said internal pressure exceeds said certain value without becoming detached from said container construction whereby said closure plug is adapted to tend to prevent said internal pressure from exceeding said certain value.
30. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 29 wherein said closure plug is so constructed and arranged that the internal pressure of said container construction is adapted to toggle said closure plug adjacent said portion thereof to release said portion from said annular surface of said wall.
1. In combination, a container construction having a wall provided with an opening passing therethrough, said wall having an edge defining said opening, and a removable closure plug disposed in said opening and having an annular side engaging said edge whereby said closure plug seals closed said opening, said closure plug having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends respectively at the ends of said axis, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged in said opening that internal pressure in said container construction is adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely effecting said seal of said closure plug thereto, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged in said opening that said closure plug is adapted to disengage said annular side thereof from said edge to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction only intermediate said opposed ends thereof when said internal pressure exceeds said certain value without becoming detached from said container construction at said opposed ends thereof whereby said closure plug is adapted to tend to prevent said internal pressure from exceeding said certain value.
2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure plug is formed from resilient material and is a one-piece structure.
3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure plug has a projection to be manually grasped to pull said closure plug from said opening.
4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said projection can act as a lever to fulcrum part of said closure plug on said wall and force part of said closure plug out of said opening.
5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure plug is adapted to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction by having said internal pressure toggle said closure plug transverse to said opposed ends thereof to release said closure plug from said edge at opposed sides of said closure plug to provide vent openings at said edge.
6. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said closure plug is substantially triangular in configuration with the apex and base thereof defining said opposed ends thereof that remain secured to said edge of said wall while part of said sides thereof release from said edge to provide for said vent opening.
7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said closure plug has a reinforcing rib extending substantially longitudinally thereof between said apex and said base.
8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure plug has at least one reinforcing rib transverse to the first mentioned rib.
9. A combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure plug has a pair of spaced and substantially parallel reinforcing ribs transverse to the first mentioned rib.
10. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wall has opposed surfaces with said opening passing therethrough whereby said opening defines an annular surface of said wall between said opposed surfaces thereof, said closure plug having said annular side normally in engagement with said annular surface of said wall completely around the periphery of said opening to seal closed said opening.
11. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said annular side of said closure plug has an annular groove therein snap-fittingly receiving said edge of said wall to secure said closure plug to said wall.
12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 wherein said closure plug is adapted to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction by having said annular groove of said closure plug being relatively deep at said opposed ends of said closure plug and relatively shallow at a portion of said closure plug intermediate said opposed ends that will release from said edge to provide a vent opening between said edge and said portion when said internal pressure exceeds said certain valve.
13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said portion extends across said closure plug so that said portion releases from said edge at both sides thereof intermediate said opposed ends to provide two vent openings.
14. In combination, a container construction having a wall provided with opposed surfaces having an opening passing therethrough that defines an annular surface of said wall between said opposed surfaces thereof, and a removable closure plug disposed in said opening and having an annular side engaging said annular surface completely around the periphery of said opening whereby said closure plug seals closed said opening, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged in said opening that internal pressure in said container construction is adapted to increase to a certain valve without adversely effecting said seal of said closure plug thereto, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged in said opening that said closure plug is adapted to have a portion of said annular side disengage from said annular surface of said wall to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction when said internal pressure exceeds said certain value without becoming detached from said container construction whereby said closure plug is adapted to tend to prevent said internal pressure from exceeding said certain value.
15. A combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said closure plug is so constructed and arranged that the internal pressure of said container construction toggles said closure plug adjacent said portion thereof to release said portion from said annular surface of said wall.
16. A removable closure plug for a container construction having a wall provided with an opening passing therethrough and being defined by an edge of said wall, said removable closure plug being adapted to be disposed in said opening and having an annular side thereof adapted for engaging said edge whereby said closure plug is adapted to seal closed said opening, said closure plug having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends respectively at the ends of said axis, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged that internal pressure in said container construction would be adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely effecting said seal of said closure plug thereto, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged that said closure plug is adapted to disengage said annular side thereof from said edge to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction only intermediate said opposed ends thereof when said internal pressure exceeds said certain value without becoming detached from said container construction at said opposed ends thereof whereby said closure plug is adapted to tend to prevent said internal pressure from exceeding said certain value.
17. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure plug is formed from resilient material and is a one-piece structure.
18. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure plug has a projection to be manually grasped so that said closure plug is adapted to be pulled from said opening of said container construction.
19. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 18 wherein said projection is adapted to act as a lever to fulcrum part of said closure plug on said wall and force part of said closure plug out of said opening of said container construction.
20. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure plug is adapted to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction by having said internal pressure toggle said closure plug transverse to said opposed ends thereof to release said closure plug from said edge of said opening of said container construction at opposed sides of said closure plug to provide vent openings at said edge.
21. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said closure plug is substantially triangular in configuration with the apex and base thereof defining said opposed ends thereof that are adapted to remain secured to said edge of said wall while part of said sides thereof are adapted to release from said edge to provide for said vent opening.
22. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 21 wherein said closure plug has a reinforcing rib extending substantially longitudinally thereof between said apex and said base.
23. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 22 wherein said closure plug has at least one reinforcing rib transverse to the first mentioned rib.
24. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 22 wherein said closure plug has a pair of spaced and substantially parallel reinforcing ribs transverse to the first mentioned rib.
25. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said wall has opposed surfaces with said opening passing therethrough whereby said opening defines an annular surface of said wall between said opposed surfaces thereof, said closure plug having said annular side adapted to be normally in engagement with said annular surface of said wall completely around the periphery of said opening to seal closed said opening.
26. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 16 wherein said annular side of said closure plug has an annular groove therein adapted to snap-fittingly receive said edge of said wall to secure said closure plug to said wall.
27. A removable closure member as set forth in claim 26 wherein said closure plug is adapted to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction by having said annular groove of said closure plug being relatively deep at said opposed ends of said closure plug and relatively shallow at a portion of said closure plug intermediate said opposed ends so that the same is adapted to release from said edge of said opening of said container construction to provide a vent opening between said edge and said portion when said internal pressure exceeds said certain valve.
28. A removable closure member as set forth in claim 27 wherein said portion extends across said closure plug so that said portion is adapted to release from said edge at both sides thereof intermediate said opposed ends to provide two vent openings.
29. A removable closure plug for a container construction having a wall provided with opposed surfaces having an opening passing therethrough that defines an annular surface of said wall between said opposed surfaces thereof, said removable closure plug being adapted to be disposed in said opening and having an annular side thereof adapted for engaging said annular surface completely around the periphery of said opening whereby said closure plug is adapted to seal closed said opening, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged that internal pressure in said container construction would be adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely effecting said seal of said closure plug thereto, said closure plug being so constructed and arranged that said closure plug is adapted to have a portion of said annular side disengage from said annular surface of said wall to vent said internal pressure to the exterior of said container construction when said internal pressure exceeds said certain value without becoming detached from said container construction whereby said closure plug is adapted to tend to prevent said internal pressure from exceeding said certain value.
30. A removable closure plug as set forth in claim 29 wherein said closure plug is so constructed and arranged that the internal pressure of said container construction is adapted to toggle said closure plug adjacent said portion thereof to release said portion from said annular surface of said wall.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the manufacture of closure plugs for inserting into openings of container constructions to seal closed such openings until it is desired to reopen the same for dispensing the container contents therefrom, each such closure plug tends to be completely detached from the opening when the internal pressure in the container construction exceeds a certain value whereby such closure plug is adversely blown off of the container construction with such event itself being a hazardous situation as well as subjecting the contents of the container construction to a situation for spoilage, decarbonization, etc. thereof.
SUMMARY
This invention provides an improved container construction and closure plug therefor wherein the aforementioned adverse blow off condition is substantially eliminated.
One embodiment of this invention comprises a container construction having a wall provided with an opening passing through opposed surfaces of the wall to define an annular surface of the wall intermediate the opposed surface thereof. A removable closure plug of this invention is disposed in the opening and has an annular groove therein snap-fittingly receiving the edge of the opening and has an annular side thereof disposed in engagement with the annular surface of the wall completely around the periphery of the opening whereby the closure plug seals closed the opening. The closure plug is so constructed and arranged in the opening that internal pressure in the container construction is adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely affecting the seal of the closure plug thereto. However, the closure plug has a portion thereof which is toggled by the excessive internal pressure to cause the annular side thereof to disengage and release from the opening to vent the internal pressure to the exterior of the container construction when the internal pressure exceeds that certain value. The released portion of the closure plug is disposed intermediate longitudinal disposed opposed ends of the closure plug that remain secured to the container construction whereby the closure plug tends to prevent the internal pressure from exceeding that certain value without becoming detached for the container construction.
Other details, uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of the present preferred embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings proceeds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show the present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the improved container construction of this invention carrying the improved closure plug of this invention.
FIG. 1A is a fragmentary, top perspective view of the container construction of FIG. 1 with the improved closure plug of this invention removed from the opening thereof.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary top view of the container construction of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the closure plug of this invention venting the internal pressure of the container construction to the exterior thereof.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a top, fragmentary, perspective view of the container construction of FIG. 1 and illustrates one method of inserting the closure plug of this invention in the opening of the container construction.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates another embodiment of the closure plug of this invention.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 and is taken on line 9--9 thereof.
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and illustrates another embodiment of the closure plug of this invention.
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 and illustrates another embodiment of the closure plug of this invention.
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken through another container construction of this invention and looking at the top wall thereof from inside the container construction.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 14--14 of FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 and illustrates the closure plug of the embodiment of FIG. 14 in its pressure relieving position.
FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 14 and illustrates another embodiment of the closure plug and container construction of this invention.
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view through the top wall of a container construction before the tear out portion is removed.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary part of the closure plug and container construction of FIG. 16 illustrating how the torn end of the opening of the container construction digs into the closure plug of this invention for sealing purposes.
FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of another closure plug of this invention .
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, one improved container construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a container body 21 having a top end wall 22 provided with a substantially triangular opening 23, FIG. 1A, passing therethrough for dispensing the contents 24, FIG. 3, from an internal chamber 25 of the container construction 20 to the exterior thereof when desired.
Such opening 23 of the container construction 20 is defined by an annular surface 26 of the wall 22 disposed between the top and bottom surfaces 22' and 22" of the wall 22, the annular surface 26 defining a triangular configuration having an apex 27 at one end thereof and a base 28 at the other end thereof with converging side edges 29 of the triangular opening 23. Such triangular opening 23 is initially formed in the container wall 22 by a conventional prescored tear out section of the wall 22 that has been torn therefrom by a pull ring or the like which does not form part of this invention.
However, it is well known that such container bodies 21 normally contain a liquid beverage wherein the ultimate consumer tears away a tear section in the top wall 22 thereof to define the dispensing opening 23 therein. However, if the ultimate consumer only dispenses part of the product 24 from the container construction 20, it is desireable that some means be utilized to reseal the opening 23 so that subsequent spoilage or other adverse action of the product 24 will not take place. In particular, when the liquid product 24 is carbonated beverage and if the opening 23 is not sufficiently resealed, the liquid product 24 becomes flat because of the subsequent escape of the CO 2 therefrom.
As previously stated, prior known closure plugs for closing openings in containers had the adverse effect of being blown out of the opening being sealed thereby when the internal pressure in the container construction exceeds a certain amount, such as occurring when the resealed container construction is inadvertently jostled or dropped.
However, it is one of the features of this invention to provide a closure plug for such an opening so that the closure plug will remain sealed in the opening until the internal pressure exceeds a certain amount at which time the closure plug of this invention will itself provide means for venting the internal pressure while still remaining attached to the container construction so that the closure plug of this invention will tend to prevent the internal pressure of the container construction from exceeding a certain amount while still being secured in place so as to prevent product spoilage and the like.
In particular, one embodiment of the closure plug of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and can be formed of plastic material molded or otherwise formed into the configuration illustrated wherein a substantially flat body portion 31 thereof is defined by an annular side or side edge 32 thereof providing a triangular configuration to the body portion 31 slightly larger than the triangular configuration of the complementary opening 23 of the container body 21. The annular side 32 of the closure plug body 31 has an annular groove 33 formed therein for snap-fittingly receiving the edge 26 of the opening 23 when the closure part 30 is disposed therein in a manner hereinafter described. The annular groove 33 in the annular edge 32 of the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 is so constructed and arranged that the same is relatively deep at the apex portion 34 thereof and the base portion 35 thereof while being relatively shallow along the side edges 36 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 4 for a purpose hereinafter described.
The body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 is longitudinally reinforced by an elongated central rib 37 and has transverse,parallel and spaced apart ribs 38 and 39 formed across the medial portion thereof for localizing the venting operation of the closure plug 30 in a manner hereinafter described.
The closure plug 30 also has an integral pull tab 40 which can be manually grasped and pulled outwardly relative to the container construction 20 to cause the body portion 31 to be deformed and pulled from the opening 23 for subsequently reopening of the container construction 20.
The pull tab 40 of the closure tab 30 can be relatively flexible so that the same can be pushed downwardly against the central rib 37 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 to facilitate the insertion of the body portion 31 in the opening 23 to snap-fit the edge or annular surface 26 of the opening 23 into the annular groove 33 of the body portion 31 to seal closed the opening 23. When the closure plug 30 is snap-fitted into the opening 23, it can be seen that the annular side 31 of the plug 30 that forms the bottom of the annular groove 33 engages against the annular surface 26 of the wall 22 completely around the periphery of the opening 23 to seal closed that opening 23.
When the closure plug 30 of this invention is initially snap-fitted into the opening 23 to seal closed the same as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that any internal pressure building up in the chamber 25 of the container construction 20 will act against the bottom surface 41 of the closure plug 30 to cause the same to toggle and tightly seal not only the annular side 31 of the plug 30 against the annular surface 26 of the wall 22, but also tightly seal against the under surface 42 of the end wall 22 about the opening 23 thereof further insuring the sealing of the closure plug 30 with the wall 22. However, when the internal pressure in the chamber 25 exceeds a certain amount, the internal pressure acting against the under surface 41 of the closure plug 30 tends to bow or toggle the same intermediate the opposed ends 34 and 35 thereof in a manner more fully explained in connection with FIGS. 13-17, but because of the configuration of the annular groove 33 in the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 and the location of the transverse reinforcing ribs 38 and 39, the closure plug 30 has the medial part 43 thereof that is substantially disposed between the transverse ribs 39 and 38 toggle and release from the edge 26 of the wall 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 to define opposed vent openings 44 at the side edges 29 of the opening 23 and the cooperating parts of the annular side 32 of the body portion 31. In this manner, the internal pressure in the chamber 25 of the container construction 20 can bleed to the atmosphere and not exceed the certain value that causes the formation of the vent openings 44 in the manner previously described. Thus, the closure plug 30 remains securely secured to the wall 22 at the apex 27 and base 28 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 5 while still providing the vent openings 44 at the side edges 29 thereof so that the closure plug 30 is not adversely blown off of the container construction 20 but will remain secured thereto while tending to prevent the internal pressure in the chamber 25 from exceeding a certain value whereby carbonization of the product 24 can remain at a palatable level without becoming flat even though a venting of the chamber 25 has previously taken place. In particular, when the internal pressure falls below its vent creating value, the natural resiliency of the closure plug 30 causes the body portion 43 to reclose the vent opening 44 sufficiently to prevent contamination of the product 24.
Therefore, it can be seen that the closure plug 30 of this invention utilizes the internal pressure of the container construction for initially further sealing the closure plug 30 in the opening of the container construction and, thereafter, vents the internal pressure through the subsequent bowing or toggling of the closure member 30 should the internal pressure exceed a certain value.
Another embodiment of the container construction and closure plug of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 wherein the container construction is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20A and the closure plug is generally indicated by the reference number 30A whereby the parts thereof similar respectively to the container construction 20 and the closure plug 30 of FIG. 1 will be indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "A."
As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the container construction 20A includes the end wall 22A of the container body 21A provided with the triangular opening 23A therethrough which receives the body portion 31A of the closure plug 30A in the snap-fitting manner previously described. However, the body portion 31A of the closure plug 30A is provided with a relatively long and stiff longitudinal reinforcing rib 45 which joins to and reinforces the pull tab 40A in such a manner that the pull tab 40A actually becomes a lever which when moved to the left as illustrated by dash dotted lines in FIG. 10 causes the lever 40A to fulcrum at point 46 on the end wall 22A and cause the base portion 35A of the body portion 31A to be levered relative to the edge 26A of the opening 23A and thereby become detached therefrom at the base of the triangular opening 23A whereby subsequent pulling upwardly on the lever 40A will completely release the body portion 31A of the closure plug 30A from the opening 23A. Thus, it is the rigidifying of the pull tab or grasping member 40A by the longitudinal rib 45 that causes the same to act as a lever and thereby facilitate the release of the snap fit relation between the body portion 31A of the closure plug 30A and the end wall 22A of the container construction 20A for easy removal thereof.
The closure plug 30A also has only one transverse reinforcing rib 47 in place of the two reinforcing ribs 38 and 39 of the closure plug 30 with such transverse reinforcing rib 47 isolating or localizing the subsequent bowing of the closure member 30A to provide venting of the interior of the container body 21A to the atmosphere when the internal pressure exceeds a certain amount in substantially the same manner previously described.
Another container construction of this invention and closure member therefor are respectively and generally indicated by the reference numerals 20B and 30B in FIG. 11 wherein parts thereof similar to the container construction 20 and closure member 30 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "B."
As illustrated in FIG. 11, the container construction 20B has the end wall 22B of the container body 21B provided with an opening (not shown) similar to the opening 23 previously described whereby the closure member 30B is snap-fittingly disposed in the opening to seal closed such opening, the closure member 30B being substantially identical to the closure member 30A previously described except that the longitudinal rib 45B that adjoins with the lever-like pull tab 40B terminates short of the apex part 34B of the body portion 31B of the pull tab 30B and abuts a transverse rib 48 of the closure member 30B. A smaller longitudinal rib 49 is disposed between the transverse rib 48 and the apex portion 34B of the pull tab 40B. In this manner, the venting or localized bending of the body portion 31B of the closure plug 30B for venting the internal pressure of the container body 21B when the same exceeds a certain value will take place to the left of the reinforcing transverse rib 48 when viewing the closure plug 30B in FIG. 11.
Therefore, it can be seen that the body portion of the closure plug of this invention can be provided with various configurations and various reinforcing means to tend to localize the bowing thereof that provides the vent openings previously described for tending to prevent the internal pressure of the container construction utilizing such closure plugs from exceeding a certain value.
However, it may be found that the closure plug can be provided without any reinforcing ribs and still function in the manner previously described in view of the configuration of the annular groove provided in the annular side wall thereof because the groove is deeper at the apex and base of the closure member than at the side edges thereof.
For example, another container construction and closure plug of this invention are respectively and generally indicated by the reference numerals 20C and 30C in FIG. 12 wherein parts thereof similar to the container construction 20 and closure plug 30 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "C."
As illustrated in FIG. 12, the body portion 31C of the closure plug 30C is completely flat without any reinforcing ribs thereon and only has the pull tab 40C extending therefrom for facilitating pulling of the closure member or closure plug 30C from the complementary opening in the end wall 22C of the container body 21C in the manner previously described. However, the body portion 31C has an annular groove in the annular edge 32C thereof which is deeper at the apex portion 34C and base portion 35C than at the side edges 36C thereof so that subsequent build-up in pressure in the container body 21C will cause the closure member 30C to bow or toggle between the ends 34C and 35C so as to release from the end wall 20C at a portion of the side edges 36C thereof to provide venting of the internal pressure in the manner previously described.
As previously stated, the various embodiments of the closure plugs previously described each has the unique feature of increasing the sealing effect of the annular side of the closure plug into engagement with the annular surface of the container wall that is disposed between the inner and outer surfaces thereof as the pressure within the container body builds up, but that when such build-up of pressure against the underside of the closure plug exceeds a certain value, the annular side of the closure plug intermediate the opposed ends thereof disengages from the annular surface of the wall to provide opposed openings for venting such excess pressure out of the container body without having the closure plug become completely disengaged therefrom.
This unique feature of applicant's closure plug is not only provided by the aforementioned annular groove being formed deeper in the closure plug at the opposed longitudinal ends of the closure plug than at the side edges thereof, but also such increased sealing and thereafter the venting of the closure plug at the side edges thereof is believed to be accomplished by a unique toggling affect of the body portion of the closure plug intermediate the opposed ends thereof.
In particular, reference is now made to FIGS. 13-15 wherein the closure plug 30 and container body 20 are illustrated in enlarged views thereof so that when the closure plug 30 is in its fully seated position in the opening 23 as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, it can be seen that the annular groove 33 in the annular side 32 of the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 is relatively shallow at the opposed side edges 29 thereof whereas the groove 33 at the opposed ends 34 and 35 of the closure plug is relatively deep so that the opposed ends 34 and 35 of the closure plug 30 will not release from the wall 22 during the relieving of excess pressure of the container construction 20 in the manner previously described.
However, it can also readily be seen in FIG. 14 that when the internal pressure within the container construction 20 is acting against the bottom surface 41 of the closure plug 30 in the direction of the arrow 50, a toggle effect is provided by the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 so that if a pair of arrows 51 and 52 are placed on the body portion 31 and extend from the central point 53 of the bottom wall 41 as illustrated in FIG. 14 to the annular surface 26 of the wall 22, any upward pushing at the point 53 on the bottom surface 41 of the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 by the internal pressure within the container construction 22 will cause the material of the body portion 31 at the arrows 51 and 52 to push outwardly into a more positive sealing manner with the annular surface 26 of the container wall 22 with such sealing force progressively increasing until the bottom surface 41 of the body portion 31 reaches the point 54 where the arrows 51 and 52 will be substantially horizontal and still force the annular side 32 of the body portion 31 into sealing engagement with the annular surface 26 of the wall 22. However, further upward movement of the point 53 of the bottom wall 41 above the point 54 in FIG. 14 will cause the arrows 51 and 52 to, in effect, snap over center, and now act against the side surface 26 of the wall 22 to push the body portion 31 away from such annular surface 26 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 15 to provide the aforementioned vent openings 44 on the opposed sides of the closure member or plug 30.
Thus, it is believed that this toggling effect of the body portion 31 in a direction transverse to the opposed ends 34 and 35 of the closure plug 30 illustrated by the arrows 51 and 52 in FIG. 14 ensures that the closure plug will remain tightly secured and sealed in the opening 23 until an excess internal pressure value is reached whereby the closure plug 30 then readily releases at the side edges 29 of the opening 23 because of the shallow groove 33 at such portions to vent the excess pressure while the closure plug 30 remains secured to the wall 22 because of the deep portions of the groove 33 at the opposed longitudinal ends 34 and 35 of the closure plug 30. Thus, it can be seen that the sealing and securement of the closure plug 30 of this invention is not solely because of the annular material of the closure plug disposed below the bottom surface 42 of the wall 22 and outboard of the opening 23 sealing against the lower surface 42 of the wall 22 because the sealing effect is actually being provided by the annular side 32 of the body portion 31 engaging against the annular surface 26 of the wall 22 with the annular surface 26 being the part disposed between the top and bottom surfaces 22' and 22" of the wall 22.
While the aforementioned toggling affect of the closure member 30 previously described also applies to the other closure members 30A, 30B, and 30C in a like manner, it is to be understood that other configurations of the closure plug can be provided to accentuate the toggling affect so that it requires a greater excess pressure within the container construction to provide the aforementioned venting action when the toggle affect snaps over center.
For example, another embodiment of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20D in FIG. 16 wherein parts thereof similar to the closure members previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "D."
As illustrated in FIG. 16, the closure member 30D has the body portion 31D thereof formed in such a manner that substantially deep recesses 55 are provided therein on each side of the central or longitudinal rib 37D thereof so that the lower surface 41D of the body portion 31D is disposed a considerable distance below the under surface 22D" of the wall 22D whereby the aforementioned toggling arrows 51D and 52D initially make relatively large angles with the horizontal when the closure member 30D is disposed in the opening 23D end no internal pressure is being applied against the point 53D thereof. Thus, it will require a greater internal force acting against the under surface 41D of the closure member 30D than on the surface 41 of the closure member 30 to cause the arrows 51D and 52D to snap over center and cause the side 32D of the body portion 31D to release from the annular surface 26D of the wall 22D.
Slippage of the side of the body portion of the closure plug against the annular surface of its container wall during the toggling or sealing affect of the annular side of the closure plug against the annular surface of the container wall to assure the sealing therebetween as the pressure within the container construction builds up is somewhat prevented by the ragged portion of the annular surface 26 of the wall normally produced by the tear-away section of the container wall digging into the side of the closure plug.
In particular, reference is now made to FIG. 17 wherein the conventional container wall 22 is illustrated in an enlarged cross section thereof and the tear-away section that produces the opening 23 in the container wall 22 is indicated by the reference numeral 56 whereby it can be seen that an annular score 57 is formed in the wall 22 to define the tear-away section 56 with the score 57 almost passing completely through the wall 22 leaving a small cross section 58 of residual metal which will be torn through when the tear-away section 56 is removed therefrom by a pulling on the conventional pull tab (not shown) interconnected to the tear-away section 56. For example, in a typical aluminum containing closure wall 22, the same is approximately 0.013 of an inch thick between the surfaces 22' and 22" thereof whereas the score 56 formed in the surface 22' of the wall 22 leaves the residual metal 58 with a thickness of approximately 0.0045 of an inch.
When the tear-away section 56 is removed to produce the opening 23, the area 58 is torn through and produces a ragged edge 59 as illustrated in FIG. 18 so that when the closure plug 30D of this invention is inserted in such opening 26D, the ragged edge 59 digs into the annular side 32D of the closure plug 30D to prevent slippage therebetween during the aforementioned toggling affect of the body portion 31D because of a build-up of pressure with the container construction.
Thus, it can be seen that such tear-away edge 59 assists in maintaining the annular side of the closure plug of this invention in sealing engagement with the annular surface of the container wall for the aforementioned sealing and toggling affect.
While the various closure plugs of this invention have been previously described as having grasping portions for removing the closure plug when it is desired to dispense the container product, it is to be understood that such tabs could each comprise a finger receiving ring or the like so that the closure plug could be readily pulled off of the container construction by merely inserting a finger in such opening and pulling outwardly on the closure plug.
Thus, reference is now made to FIG. 19 wherein another closure plug of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 30E and parts thereof similar to the closure plug as previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "E."
The body portion 31E of the closure plug 30E is formed in a manner similar to the other closure plugs to function in the manner previously described and in place of a grasping portion 40, an enlarged portion 60 extends outwardly from the end 35E thereof which has a substantially circular opening 61 passing therethrough and through which a finger can be inserted to pull the closure plug 30E from the container opening receiving the same.
Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides improved container constructions, but also this invention provides improved closure plugs for such container constructions or the like.
While present preferred embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
In the manufacture of closure plugs for inserting into openings of container constructions to seal closed such openings until it is desired to reopen the same for dispensing the container contents therefrom, each such closure plug tends to be completely detached from the opening when the internal pressure in the container construction exceeds a certain value whereby such closure plug is adversely blown off of the container construction with such event itself being a hazardous situation as well as subjecting the contents of the container construction to a situation for spoilage, decarbonization, etc. thereof.
SUMMARY
This invention provides an improved container construction and closure plug therefor wherein the aforementioned adverse blow off condition is substantially eliminated.
One embodiment of this invention comprises a container construction having a wall provided with an opening passing through opposed surfaces of the wall to define an annular surface of the wall intermediate the opposed surface thereof. A removable closure plug of this invention is disposed in the opening and has an annular groove therein snap-fittingly receiving the edge of the opening and has an annular side thereof disposed in engagement with the annular surface of the wall completely around the periphery of the opening whereby the closure plug seals closed the opening. The closure plug is so constructed and arranged in the opening that internal pressure in the container construction is adapted to increase to a certain value without adversely affecting the seal of the closure plug thereto. However, the closure plug has a portion thereof which is toggled by the excessive internal pressure to cause the annular side thereof to disengage and release from the opening to vent the internal pressure to the exterior of the container construction when the internal pressure exceeds that certain value. The released portion of the closure plug is disposed intermediate longitudinal disposed opposed ends of the closure plug that remain secured to the container construction whereby the closure plug tends to prevent the internal pressure from exceeding that certain value without becoming detached for the container construction.
Other details, uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of the present preferred embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings proceeds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings show the present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the improved container construction of this invention carrying the improved closure plug of this invention.
FIG. 1A is a fragmentary, top perspective view of the container construction of FIG. 1 with the improved closure plug of this invention removed from the opening thereof.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary top view of the container construction of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the closure plug of this invention venting the internal pressure of the container construction to the exterior thereof.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a top, fragmentary, perspective view of the container construction of FIG. 1 and illustrates one method of inserting the closure plug of this invention in the opening of the container construction.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates another embodiment of the closure plug of this invention.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 and is taken on line 9--9 thereof.
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and illustrates another embodiment of the closure plug of this invention.
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 and illustrates another embodiment of the closure plug of this invention.
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken through another container construction of this invention and looking at the top wall thereof from inside the container construction.
FIG. 14 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 14--14 of FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 and illustrates the closure plug of the embodiment of FIG. 14 in its pressure relieving position.
FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 14 and illustrates another embodiment of the closure plug and container construction of this invention.
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view through the top wall of a container construction before the tear out portion is removed.
FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary part of the closure plug and container construction of FIG. 16 illustrating how the torn end of the opening of the container construction digs into the closure plug of this invention for sealing purposes.
FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of another closure plug of this invention .
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, one improved container construction of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a container body 21 having a top end wall 22 provided with a substantially triangular opening 23, FIG. 1A, passing therethrough for dispensing the contents 24, FIG. 3, from an internal chamber 25 of the container construction 20 to the exterior thereof when desired.
Such opening 23 of the container construction 20 is defined by an annular surface 26 of the wall 22 disposed between the top and bottom surfaces 22' and 22" of the wall 22, the annular surface 26 defining a triangular configuration having an apex 27 at one end thereof and a base 28 at the other end thereof with converging side edges 29 of the triangular opening 23. Such triangular opening 23 is initially formed in the container wall 22 by a conventional prescored tear out section of the wall 22 that has been torn therefrom by a pull ring or the like which does not form part of this invention.
However, it is well known that such container bodies 21 normally contain a liquid beverage wherein the ultimate consumer tears away a tear section in the top wall 22 thereof to define the dispensing opening 23 therein. However, if the ultimate consumer only dispenses part of the product 24 from the container construction 20, it is desireable that some means be utilized to reseal the opening 23 so that subsequent spoilage or other adverse action of the product 24 will not take place. In particular, when the liquid product 24 is carbonated beverage and if the opening 23 is not sufficiently resealed, the liquid product 24 becomes flat because of the subsequent escape of the CO 2 therefrom.
As previously stated, prior known closure plugs for closing openings in containers had the adverse effect of being blown out of the opening being sealed thereby when the internal pressure in the container construction exceeds a certain amount, such as occurring when the resealed container construction is inadvertently jostled or dropped.
However, it is one of the features of this invention to provide a closure plug for such an opening so that the closure plug will remain sealed in the opening until the internal pressure exceeds a certain amount at which time the closure plug of this invention will itself provide means for venting the internal pressure while still remaining attached to the container construction so that the closure plug of this invention will tend to prevent the internal pressure of the container construction from exceeding a certain amount while still being secured in place so as to prevent product spoilage and the like.
In particular, one embodiment of the closure plug of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 30 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and can be formed of plastic material molded or otherwise formed into the configuration illustrated wherein a substantially flat body portion 31 thereof is defined by an annular side or side edge 32 thereof providing a triangular configuration to the body portion 31 slightly larger than the triangular configuration of the complementary opening 23 of the container body 21. The annular side 32 of the closure plug body 31 has an annular groove 33 formed therein for snap-fittingly receiving the edge 26 of the opening 23 when the closure part 30 is disposed therein in a manner hereinafter described. The annular groove 33 in the annular edge 32 of the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 is so constructed and arranged that the same is relatively deep at the apex portion 34 thereof and the base portion 35 thereof while being relatively shallow along the side edges 36 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 4 for a purpose hereinafter described.
The body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 is longitudinally reinforced by an elongated central rib 37 and has transverse,parallel and spaced apart ribs 38 and 39 formed across the medial portion thereof for localizing the venting operation of the closure plug 30 in a manner hereinafter described.
The closure plug 30 also has an integral pull tab 40 which can be manually grasped and pulled outwardly relative to the container construction 20 to cause the body portion 31 to be deformed and pulled from the opening 23 for subsequently reopening of the container construction 20.
The pull tab 40 of the closure tab 30 can be relatively flexible so that the same can be pushed downwardly against the central rib 37 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 to facilitate the insertion of the body portion 31 in the opening 23 to snap-fit the edge or annular surface 26 of the opening 23 into the annular groove 33 of the body portion 31 to seal closed the opening 23. When the closure plug 30 is snap-fitted into the opening 23, it can be seen that the annular side 31 of the plug 30 that forms the bottom of the annular groove 33 engages against the annular surface 26 of the wall 22 completely around the periphery of the opening 23 to seal closed that opening 23.
When the closure plug 30 of this invention is initially snap-fitted into the opening 23 to seal closed the same as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that any internal pressure building up in the chamber 25 of the container construction 20 will act against the bottom surface 41 of the closure plug 30 to cause the same to toggle and tightly seal not only the annular side 31 of the plug 30 against the annular surface 26 of the wall 22, but also tightly seal against the under surface 42 of the end wall 22 about the opening 23 thereof further insuring the sealing of the closure plug 30 with the wall 22. However, when the internal pressure in the chamber 25 exceeds a certain amount, the internal pressure acting against the under surface 41 of the closure plug 30 tends to bow or toggle the same intermediate the opposed ends 34 and 35 thereof in a manner more fully explained in connection with FIGS. 13-17, but because of the configuration of the annular groove 33 in the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 and the location of the transverse reinforcing ribs 38 and 39, the closure plug 30 has the medial part 43 thereof that is substantially disposed between the transverse ribs 39 and 38 toggle and release from the edge 26 of the wall 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 to define opposed vent openings 44 at the side edges 29 of the opening 23 and the cooperating parts of the annular side 32 of the body portion 31. In this manner, the internal pressure in the chamber 25 of the container construction 20 can bleed to the atmosphere and not exceed the certain value that causes the formation of the vent openings 44 in the manner previously described. Thus, the closure plug 30 remains securely secured to the wall 22 at the apex 27 and base 28 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 5 while still providing the vent openings 44 at the side edges 29 thereof so that the closure plug 30 is not adversely blown off of the container construction 20 but will remain secured thereto while tending to prevent the internal pressure in the chamber 25 from exceeding a certain value whereby carbonization of the product 24 can remain at a palatable level without becoming flat even though a venting of the chamber 25 has previously taken place. In particular, when the internal pressure falls below its vent creating value, the natural resiliency of the closure plug 30 causes the body portion 43 to reclose the vent opening 44 sufficiently to prevent contamination of the product 24.
Therefore, it can be seen that the closure plug 30 of this invention utilizes the internal pressure of the container construction for initially further sealing the closure plug 30 in the opening of the container construction and, thereafter, vents the internal pressure through the subsequent bowing or toggling of the closure member 30 should the internal pressure exceed a certain value.
Another embodiment of the container construction and closure plug of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 wherein the container construction is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20A and the closure plug is generally indicated by the reference number 30A whereby the parts thereof similar respectively to the container construction 20 and the closure plug 30 of FIG. 1 will be indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "A."
As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the container construction 20A includes the end wall 22A of the container body 21A provided with the triangular opening 23A therethrough which receives the body portion 31A of the closure plug 30A in the snap-fitting manner previously described. However, the body portion 31A of the closure plug 30A is provided with a relatively long and stiff longitudinal reinforcing rib 45 which joins to and reinforces the pull tab 40A in such a manner that the pull tab 40A actually becomes a lever which when moved to the left as illustrated by dash dotted lines in FIG. 10 causes the lever 40A to fulcrum at point 46 on the end wall 22A and cause the base portion 35A of the body portion 31A to be levered relative to the edge 26A of the opening 23A and thereby become detached therefrom at the base of the triangular opening 23A whereby subsequent pulling upwardly on the lever 40A will completely release the body portion 31A of the closure plug 30A from the opening 23A. Thus, it is the rigidifying of the pull tab or grasping member 40A by the longitudinal rib 45 that causes the same to act as a lever and thereby facilitate the release of the snap fit relation between the body portion 31A of the closure plug 30A and the end wall 22A of the container construction 20A for easy removal thereof.
The closure plug 30A also has only one transverse reinforcing rib 47 in place of the two reinforcing ribs 38 and 39 of the closure plug 30 with such transverse reinforcing rib 47 isolating or localizing the subsequent bowing of the closure member 30A to provide venting of the interior of the container body 21A to the atmosphere when the internal pressure exceeds a certain amount in substantially the same manner previously described.
Another container construction of this invention and closure member therefor are respectively and generally indicated by the reference numerals 20B and 30B in FIG. 11 wherein parts thereof similar to the container construction 20 and closure member 30 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "B."
As illustrated in FIG. 11, the container construction 20B has the end wall 22B of the container body 21B provided with an opening (not shown) similar to the opening 23 previously described whereby the closure member 30B is snap-fittingly disposed in the opening to seal closed such opening, the closure member 30B being substantially identical to the closure member 30A previously described except that the longitudinal rib 45B that adjoins with the lever-like pull tab 40B terminates short of the apex part 34B of the body portion 31B of the pull tab 30B and abuts a transverse rib 48 of the closure member 30B. A smaller longitudinal rib 49 is disposed between the transverse rib 48 and the apex portion 34B of the pull tab 40B. In this manner, the venting or localized bending of the body portion 31B of the closure plug 30B for venting the internal pressure of the container body 21B when the same exceeds a certain value will take place to the left of the reinforcing transverse rib 48 when viewing the closure plug 30B in FIG. 11.
Therefore, it can be seen that the body portion of the closure plug of this invention can be provided with various configurations and various reinforcing means to tend to localize the bowing thereof that provides the vent openings previously described for tending to prevent the internal pressure of the container construction utilizing such closure plugs from exceeding a certain value.
However, it may be found that the closure plug can be provided without any reinforcing ribs and still function in the manner previously described in view of the configuration of the annular groove provided in the annular side wall thereof because the groove is deeper at the apex and base of the closure member than at the side edges thereof.
For example, another container construction and closure plug of this invention are respectively and generally indicated by the reference numerals 20C and 30C in FIG. 12 wherein parts thereof similar to the container construction 20 and closure plug 30 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "C."
As illustrated in FIG. 12, the body portion 31C of the closure plug 30C is completely flat without any reinforcing ribs thereon and only has the pull tab 40C extending therefrom for facilitating pulling of the closure member or closure plug 30C from the complementary opening in the end wall 22C of the container body 21C in the manner previously described. However, the body portion 31C has an annular groove in the annular edge 32C thereof which is deeper at the apex portion 34C and base portion 35C than at the side edges 36C thereof so that subsequent build-up in pressure in the container body 21C will cause the closure member 30C to bow or toggle between the ends 34C and 35C so as to release from the end wall 20C at a portion of the side edges 36C thereof to provide venting of the internal pressure in the manner previously described.
As previously stated, the various embodiments of the closure plugs previously described each has the unique feature of increasing the sealing effect of the annular side of the closure plug into engagement with the annular surface of the container wall that is disposed between the inner and outer surfaces thereof as the pressure within the container body builds up, but that when such build-up of pressure against the underside of the closure plug exceeds a certain value, the annular side of the closure plug intermediate the opposed ends thereof disengages from the annular surface of the wall to provide opposed openings for venting such excess pressure out of the container body without having the closure plug become completely disengaged therefrom.
This unique feature of applicant's closure plug is not only provided by the aforementioned annular groove being formed deeper in the closure plug at the opposed longitudinal ends of the closure plug than at the side edges thereof, but also such increased sealing and thereafter the venting of the closure plug at the side edges thereof is believed to be accomplished by a unique toggling affect of the body portion of the closure plug intermediate the opposed ends thereof.
In particular, reference is now made to FIGS. 13-15 wherein the closure plug 30 and container body 20 are illustrated in enlarged views thereof so that when the closure plug 30 is in its fully seated position in the opening 23 as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, it can be seen that the annular groove 33 in the annular side 32 of the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 is relatively shallow at the opposed side edges 29 thereof whereas the groove 33 at the opposed ends 34 and 35 of the closure plug is relatively deep so that the opposed ends 34 and 35 of the closure plug 30 will not release from the wall 22 during the relieving of excess pressure of the container construction 20 in the manner previously described.
However, it can also readily be seen in FIG. 14 that when the internal pressure within the container construction 20 is acting against the bottom surface 41 of the closure plug 30 in the direction of the arrow 50, a toggle effect is provided by the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 so that if a pair of arrows 51 and 52 are placed on the body portion 31 and extend from the central point 53 of the bottom wall 41 as illustrated in FIG. 14 to the annular surface 26 of the wall 22, any upward pushing at the point 53 on the bottom surface 41 of the body portion 31 of the closure plug 30 by the internal pressure within the container construction 22 will cause the material of the body portion 31 at the arrows 51 and 52 to push outwardly into a more positive sealing manner with the annular surface 26 of the container wall 22 with such sealing force progressively increasing until the bottom surface 41 of the body portion 31 reaches the point 54 where the arrows 51 and 52 will be substantially horizontal and still force the annular side 32 of the body portion 31 into sealing engagement with the annular surface 26 of the wall 22. However, further upward movement of the point 53 of the bottom wall 41 above the point 54 in FIG. 14 will cause the arrows 51 and 52 to, in effect, snap over center, and now act against the side surface 26 of the wall 22 to push the body portion 31 away from such annular surface 26 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 15 to provide the aforementioned vent openings 44 on the opposed sides of the closure member or plug 30.
Thus, it is believed that this toggling effect of the body portion 31 in a direction transverse to the opposed ends 34 and 35 of the closure plug 30 illustrated by the arrows 51 and 52 in FIG. 14 ensures that the closure plug will remain tightly secured and sealed in the opening 23 until an excess internal pressure value is reached whereby the closure plug 30 then readily releases at the side edges 29 of the opening 23 because of the shallow groove 33 at such portions to vent the excess pressure while the closure plug 30 remains secured to the wall 22 because of the deep portions of the groove 33 at the opposed longitudinal ends 34 and 35 of the closure plug 30. Thus, it can be seen that the sealing and securement of the closure plug 30 of this invention is not solely because of the annular material of the closure plug disposed below the bottom surface 42 of the wall 22 and outboard of the opening 23 sealing against the lower surface 42 of the wall 22 because the sealing effect is actually being provided by the annular side 32 of the body portion 31 engaging against the annular surface 26 of the wall 22 with the annular surface 26 being the part disposed between the top and bottom surfaces 22' and 22" of the wall 22.
While the aforementioned toggling affect of the closure member 30 previously described also applies to the other closure members 30A, 30B, and 30C in a like manner, it is to be understood that other configurations of the closure plug can be provided to accentuate the toggling affect so that it requires a greater excess pressure within the container construction to provide the aforementioned venting action when the toggle affect snaps over center.
For example, another embodiment of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20D in FIG. 16 wherein parts thereof similar to the closure members previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "D."
As illustrated in FIG. 16, the closure member 30D has the body portion 31D thereof formed in such a manner that substantially deep recesses 55 are provided therein on each side of the central or longitudinal rib 37D thereof so that the lower surface 41D of the body portion 31D is disposed a considerable distance below the under surface 22D" of the wall 22D whereby the aforementioned toggling arrows 51D and 52D initially make relatively large angles with the horizontal when the closure member 30D is disposed in the opening 23D end no internal pressure is being applied against the point 53D thereof. Thus, it will require a greater internal force acting against the under surface 41D of the closure member 30D than on the surface 41 of the closure member 30 to cause the arrows 51D and 52D to snap over center and cause the side 32D of the body portion 31D to release from the annular surface 26D of the wall 22D.
Slippage of the side of the body portion of the closure plug against the annular surface of its container wall during the toggling or sealing affect of the annular side of the closure plug against the annular surface of the container wall to assure the sealing therebetween as the pressure within the container construction builds up is somewhat prevented by the ragged portion of the annular surface 26 of the wall normally produced by the tear-away section of the container wall digging into the side of the closure plug.
In particular, reference is now made to FIG. 17 wherein the conventional container wall 22 is illustrated in an enlarged cross section thereof and the tear-away section that produces the opening 23 in the container wall 22 is indicated by the reference numeral 56 whereby it can be seen that an annular score 57 is formed in the wall 22 to define the tear-away section 56 with the score 57 almost passing completely through the wall 22 leaving a small cross section 58 of residual metal which will be torn through when the tear-away section 56 is removed therefrom by a pulling on the conventional pull tab (not shown) interconnected to the tear-away section 56. For example, in a typical aluminum containing closure wall 22, the same is approximately 0.013 of an inch thick between the surfaces 22' and 22" thereof whereas the score 56 formed in the surface 22' of the wall 22 leaves the residual metal 58 with a thickness of approximately 0.0045 of an inch.
When the tear-away section 56 is removed to produce the opening 23, the area 58 is torn through and produces a ragged edge 59 as illustrated in FIG. 18 so that when the closure plug 30D of this invention is inserted in such opening 26D, the ragged edge 59 digs into the annular side 32D of the closure plug 30D to prevent slippage therebetween during the aforementioned toggling affect of the body portion 31D because of a build-up of pressure with the container construction.
Thus, it can be seen that such tear-away edge 59 assists in maintaining the annular side of the closure plug of this invention in sealing engagement with the annular surface of the container wall for the aforementioned sealing and toggling affect.
While the various closure plugs of this invention have been previously described as having grasping portions for removing the closure plug when it is desired to dispense the container product, it is to be understood that such tabs could each comprise a finger receiving ring or the like so that the closure plug could be readily pulled off of the container construction by merely inserting a finger in such opening and pulling outwardly on the closure plug.
Thus, reference is now made to FIG. 19 wherein another closure plug of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 30E and parts thereof similar to the closure plug as previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "E."
The body portion 31E of the closure plug 30E is formed in a manner similar to the other closure plugs to function in the manner previously described and in place of a grasping portion 40, an enlarged portion 60 extends outwardly from the end 35E thereof which has a substantially circular opening 61 passing therethrough and through which a finger can be inserted to pull the closure plug 30E from the container opening receiving the same.
Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides improved container constructions, but also this invention provides improved closure plugs for such container constructions or the like.
While present preferred embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.